REMOTE  STORAGE 


L 


P 


NOTES  ON  THE  BACTERIOLOGICAL  ANALYSIS  OF 

WATER. 


BY  L.  H.  PAMMKL. 


The  recent  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  at  the  college  is  of 
interest  to  us  and  especially  the  methods  now  in  vogue 
1 with  reference  to  the  examination  of  water  for  various 
organisms.  During  the  recent  epidemic  and  previously  the 
well  waters  in  the  vicinity  of  Ames  as  well  as  the 
college  water  supply  were  examined  at  various  times.  An 
I examination  has  also  been  made  of  water  coming  from 
wells  of  the  parties  who  have  furnished  milk  to  the  college. 
It  should  be  stated  here  that  this  report  is  not  completed 
owing  to  the  fact  that  some  of  the  species  have  not  been 
sufficiently  determined.  From  the  nature  of  the  case  it 
requires  a great  deal  of  patient  and  careful  work  to  run 
out  the  different  species,  so  that  the  biological  examination 
was  not  completed.  Thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  F.  W.  Faurot,  Mr. 
A.  D.  McKinley,  Mr.  H.  H.  Thomas,  Miss  Nellie  Nicholas, 
; Miss  Estella  Paddock,  and  Mr.  L.  R.  Walker  for  assistance 
I in  carrying  out  this  work. 

In  the  paper  on  the  Iowa  State  College  Sewage  Disposal 
j Plant  will  be  found  a brief  note  on  the  water  of  the  deep 
well  previous  to  this  spring.  Examinations  have  been 
made  from  time  to  time,  and  as  a result  of  our  woi’k,  we 
I found  that  the  water  during  the  winter  months  varied  from 
r no  bacteria  to  50  per  cubic  centimeter,  thus  showing  an 
i unusually  good  supply  of  water. 

A Marslon,  J.  B.  Weems  and  L.  H.  Pammel.  The  Iowa  State  Collejje 
Sewage  Disposal  Plant  and  Investigations.  Proc.  la. 
Engineering  Soc.  IVOO.  Contr.  la.  State  Coll.  Argrl.  & 
[ Mech.  Arts.  1:19. 


— 2 — 

BRILEY  SHALLOW  WELL. 

Depth,  45  feet;  18-inch  glazed  tile,  cemented  at  the  joints, 
covered  with  boards  on  top.  The  well  has  not  been  used 
since  October  20th. 


DATE-. 

GAS  TEST. 

Total  number 

bacteria  per 

CC. 

GELATINE. 

Agar. 

LITMUS  AGAR. 

Lique-fy- 

ing. 

Non-lique- 

fying 

October  17th 

October  18th 

Present  

18.000 

12.000 

6. 000 
1,440 

2.000 
2,400 

125 

125 

Used. 

Used. 

Used. 

Used. 

Used. 

Used. 

Some  acid-  pro- 
ducing germs. 

October  25th  .. 
October  25th  .... 

October  25th 

October  25th 

October  29th  . . . 

First  pumping 

One-half  barrel  pumped 

One  barrel  pumped 

1%  barrel  pumped  

Present  

BRILEY  DEEP  WELL. 

Depth,  185  feet;  2-inch  pipe  and  casing. 


October  17th 

60 

Used. 

No  acid-produc- 

October 17th  .... 

None 

30 

ing  germs. 

October  i8th  ..... 

None 

30 

October  27th 

30 

Used 

October  29th 

30 

PRITCHARD  WELL  AND  TANK — WELL. 


Depth,  170  feet;  3-inch  casing  well  and  inside  a 2-inch 
pipe. 


October  i8th  

20 

October  22d 

30 

3c 

Used. 

October  29th 

20 

20 

Non  - acid  - pro- 

October 18th 

60 

20 

40 

ducing. 

TANK. 

Open  tank  used  for  watering  stock,  above  well. 


October  29th 

October  29th 

33^  CC 

October  31st 

225 

225 

October  29th 

3^  CC 

Acid  reaction. 

— 3 — 

PETERSON  WELL  AND  TANK. — WELL. 

Depth,  185  feet;  120  feet  down  to  cylinder.  Cased.  Two 
inch  iron,  with  about  four  inch  of  casing.  Located  two 
miles  north  of  Ontario. 


TANK. 


Open  tank  for  watering  stock. 


October  i8th 

3 cc 

2, 600 
4,200 

25 

Acid  producing 

October  29th 

Acid 

360 

2, 240 

October  31st 

10  molds 

4, 200 
320 

100  acid. 

October  18th 

220  non  acid. 

SKELTON  WELL. 


Thirty-five  feet  deep,  ten  inch  casing. 


October  i8th 

0 0 

30 

Non-acid. 

October  i8th 

October  27th 

3 cc 

Acid. 

October  31st 

200 

200 

October  27th 

2 molds 

90 

6.33 

October  27th 

NO.  2 

633 

RIVER  WATER. 


DATE. 

SKUNK  RIVER 
WATER. 

DATE 

SQUAW  CREEK 
WATER. 

Total  num- 
ber germs 
per  cc. 

Medium  used 
agar. 

Total  num- 
ber germs 
per  cc. 

Medium  used 
agar. 

April  30th 

1,800 
1,800 
916 
1,800 
27, 000 

May  19th 

300 

11.200 

16.200 
8,520 
2,400 

May  7th 

July  2nd 

May  9th 

August  8th 

May  19th 

Augu.st  8th 

July  6th 

October  4th 

_4  — 


Investigations  carried  on  with  the  water  supply  of  var- 
ious wells  in  the  vicinity  of  Ames  by  Messrs.  McKinley 
and  Thomas  and  Mr.  Faurot  gave  the  following  results: 


fatjrot’s  well. 


DATE. 

Number  germs 
per  cc. 

REMARKS. 

April  23d 

1,600 
4,500 
9,360 
9, 480 
220 

Collected  after  a rain 

April  ^^d 

May  22d 

May  29th 

July  6th 

Average 

5,032 

OTIS  HOUSE  WELL. 


May  7th  — 
May  2ist  — 

May  28th 

July  2d 

August  8th.. 
August  8th.. 
October  4th. 
October  4th. 
October  23d. 
October  23d. 


80 

3 

200 

54,000 

120 

None 

120 

360 

3,000 

2, 400 


Collected  without  ice. 

Collected  without  ice. 

Collected  without  ice. 

Indication  of  something  in  pipes. 

Indication  of  something  in  pipes. 

After  pumping  15  minutes,  collected  with  ice. 
With  ice— first  pumping. 

With  ice— after  pumping. 

First  pumping— no  gas. 

Second  pumping— no  gas. 


Average 

6,028 

LABORATORY  TAP. 

May  7th 

None. 

None. 

360 

520 

700 

80 

Poured  immediately. 

Poured  immediately. 

Poured  immediately. 

Poured  immediately. 

Poured  immediately. 

Poured  immediately. 

May  2ist 

October  4th 

October  17th 

October  17th 

November  6th 

Average 

276 

PARSON  S WELL. 


May  7th 

3,600 

Failure. 

Well  full. 

May  2Tst  

Well  full. 

May  ii8th 

1,300 

90 

150 

170 

Well  full. 

With  ice.  First  pumping.  Very  little  water  in  well. 

With  ice.  First  pumping.  Very  little  water  in  well. 

With  ice.  Second  pumping.  Very  little  water  in  well. 

J 111 y ^Tid 

August  8th 

August  8th 

October  23d 

50 

Without  ice.  Second  pumping.  No  gas. 

October  23d 

380 

Without  ice.  First  pumping. 

Average . 

643 



— 5 — 


illsley’s  well. 


DATE. 

Number  germs 
per  cc. 

REMARKS. 

May  7th 

8,000 
Failure. 
600. 
1, 200 
590 
220 
80 
800 

Without  ice.  First  pumping. 

With  ice.  Second  pumping. 

No  gas.  Second  pumping. 

First  pumping. 

May  aist  

May  28th 

Tulv  2d  

August  8th  

August  8th 

October  23d 

October  23d 

Average 

1, 642 

WELL  AT  HOaSE,  NEAE  BRICK  YARD. 

May  2ist 

300 

330 

TO, 800 
7,800 

1.400 

5.400 

First  pumping. 

With  ice.  Second  pumping. 

With  ice.  First  pumping. 

With  ice.  Second  pumping. 

August  8th  — 

August  8th  . . 

October  4th 

October  4th. 

Average  

4.338 

CREEK  WATER. 

May  19th 

July  2d  

300 
11,200 
16, 200 
8,520 

2,4C0 

Without  ice. 

With  ice. 

With  ice. 

August  8th 

August  8th 

October  4th 

Average  ... 

7,724 

OLSEN’s  WELL. 

May  28th  ... 
August  8th....  . 

August  8th  

October  4th 

October  4th  . ... 

October  23th  

-October  23th 

Average 

10 

60 

120 

620 

240 

• ' 

With  ice.  Wind  mill  in  operation  one-half  day. 

Wind  mill  in  operation  one-half  day. 

With  ice.  First  pumping. 

With  ice.  Second  pumping. 

Without  ice.  First  pumping. 

Without  ice.  Second  pumping.  No  gas. 

286 

FOUNTAIN  WATER  IN  PARK,  STORY  CITY,  IOWA. 

October  7th 

4,500 

20 

Without  ice.  Poured  in  laboratory.  No  gas. 

Poured  immediately. 

October  i3ih 

HIGH  SCHOOL,  STORY  CITY,  IOWA. 

October  7th 

0 0 

Collected  without  ice.  No  gas.  » 

Poured  at  well. 

October  13th 

— 6 — 

HENRYSOn’s  well,  story  city,  IOWA. 


DATE. 

Number  germs 
per  cc. 

REMARKS. 

October  7th 

280 

230 

Collected  without  ice  Produced  gas. 

Poured  at  well. 

October  13th 

HYDRANT,  STORY  CITY,  IOWA. 


October  7th 

October  13th 

0 0 

Without  ice.  No  gas. 

Poured  at  hydrant. 

C. 

& N.  W 

. WELL  AT  WEBSTER  CITY,  IOWA. 

October  6th 

310 

Without  ice.  Gas. 

A. 

J.  HAVILAND’s  well,  fort  dodge,  IOWA. 

October  5th 

150 

Without  ice.  30  moulds. 

WILL  HAVILANd’s  WELL,  FORT  DODGE,  IOWA. 

October  5th 

5,400 

Without  ice. 

The  records  kept  by  Miss  Nicholas  were  as  follows : 

munn’s  well. 


May  5th 

570 

Agar  used. 

September  24th 

300 

Agar  used. 

October  nth 

80 

Agar  used. 

pammel’s  well. 

September  9th 

1,300 

Agar  used. 

August  nth 

400 

Agar  used. 

September  27th 

510 

Agar  used. 

budd’s  well. 

May  5th 

50 

Agar  used.  i 

September  27th..  .. 

40 

Agar  used.  | 

October  8th 

30 

Agar  used. 

October  27th 

20 

Litmus  agar  used.  Non-acid  producing. 

— 7 — 


eeed’s  well. 


DATE. 

Number  germs 
per  cc. 

REMARKS. 

May  17th 

2, 500 

Agar  used. 

May  31st 

1,200 

Agar  used. 

September  19th..  , . 

7C0 

Agar  used. 

October  27th 

Litmus  agar  used.  Acid  and  non-acid. 

miller’s  well. 


May  17th 

May  31st 

0 0 

0 

Agar  used. 

Agar  used. 

Paxton’s  well. 

May  17th 

September  19th 

September  27th,. . . 

1,900 

1.300 

2,4CO 

Agar  used. 

Agar  used. 

Agar  used. 

Hardin’s  well. 

May  31st 

30 

Agar  used. 

Lincoln’s  well. 

May  5th 

May  31st 

September  27th 

300 

400 

100 

Agar  used.  ) 

Agar  used.  >No  gas  at  any  time. 

Agar  used.  ) 

hunt’s  cistern. 

May  17th 

150 

Agar  used. 

• hoover’s  spring. 

May  17th 

October  27th 

2,400 

40 

Agar  used. 

Litmus  agar  used.  Non  acid  producing. 

— 8 — 


The  following  are  the  results  of  Miss  Nicholas  of  exam- 
ination of  samples,  the  second  after  discarding  a few  pails- 
full.  The  medium  used  was  ordinary  agar. 


DATE. 

Well 

Fjrst  pumping. 

Second  pumping. 

September  9th 

Lincoln. .. 
Munn 

460 

240 

30 

180 
1,700 
2, 800 

330 

230 

20 

170 

1,600 

6,000 

September  9th 

October  8th 

Budd 

October  8th 

Lincoln. . . 
Reed 

October  8th 

Kinkade  .. 

The  Kinkade  well  is  very  shallow  and  the  second  sample 
was  collected  after  several  barrels  of  water  had  been 
pumped  out,  therefore  the  much  greater  number  of  bacteria 
in  the  second  sample  may  be  due  to  sediment. 

All  of  the  shallow  wells  examined  contained  gas-produc- 
ing germs.  The  Paxton  well  produced  30  cc.  of  gas  in  the  fer- 
mentation 4:ube,  10  cc.  of  which  was  00^  and  20  cc.  CH^ . The 
Reed  well  produced  100  cc.  of  gas  (40  cc.  CO^  and  60  cc.  CH4). 
The  water  from  the  Kinkade  well  produced  a very  great 
amount  of  gas. 

The  Briley  Shallow  Well. — In  conjunction  with  Dr. 
Weems  and  Mr.  McKinley  on  another  occasion  the  writer 
collected  samples  of  the  water  at  the  Briley  well,  and  later 
Mr.  Faurot  also  collected  this  water  twice.  The  second 
time  when  Mr.  Faurot  collected  these  samples  we  got  an 
unusually  large  number  of  germs  per  cubic  centimeter. 
That  collected  by  the  writer  on  October  17  had  18,000  and 
that  by  Mr.  Faurot  had  6,000.  It  is  worthy  of  note  in  this 
connection  that  the  samples  collected  by  myself  on  October 
17  contained  18,000  germs  per  cc.,  that  in  one  of  the  samples 
collected  by  Mr.  Faurot  on  October  25,  the  number  of  germs 
had  diminished  very  materially,  the  largest  number  found 
was  6,000.  On  October  29  the  highest  number  obtained 
was  125  per  cc. 


y — 


In  regard  to  the  last  plates  poured  it  is  a singular  fact 
that  but  a very  small  development  occurred,  and  this  is 
strange  since  we  had  such  an  unusual  development  before 
running  from  6,000  to  18,000  per  cubic  centimeter. 

In  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  well  it  looks  as  though 
the  water  could  easily  have  drained  off  from  the  surface,, 
but  nevertheless  upon  removing  some  of  the  boards  from 
the  top  of  the  well  I found  that  the  water  might  easily 
have  entered  between  the  cracks  of  some  of  the  boards. 
In  fact  I found  moisture  on  the  inside  on  the  upper  tile,, 
showing  the  water  had  run  down.  One  can  readily  see 
how  B.  coli-communis  or  other  foreign  organisms  could  get 
into  the  water.  Gas  was  produced  in  one  tube  poured  by 
Mr.  Faurot  and  a slight  amount  in  another.  In  this  case 
we  made  the  usual  test.  We  also  obtained  gas  from  the 
first  plates  that  I poured. 

The  samples  collected  on  October  29  were  kept  for  forty 
days  in  the  laboratory  and  then  were  examined  by  Mr. 
McKinley  and  Mr.  Thomas  with  the  following  results: 


WELL. 

Depth. 

No.  of  germs. 

Briley  Shallow  Well 

45  feet. 

185  feel. 

200 

20 

10 

None. 

30 

340 

1. 000 

30 

Briley  Deep  Well 

Laboratory  tap.  Same  source 

Kitchen  Tap 

Skelton’s  Well 

Peterson  Deep  Well 

35  feet. 

185  feet. 

Peterson’s  Trough 

Pritchard  Well 

170  feet. 

Various  species  were  found.  Some  of  these  have  been 
excluded  as  having  no  connection  with  Bacillus  typhosus 
or  B.  coli-communis.  On  the  other  hand  there  are  a number 
of  species  that  belong  to  the  typhosus  group  culturally  so 
far  as  has  been  carried  out.  Our  work  was  interrupted 
although  cultures  of  all  of  the  species  were  made  and  placed 
away  for  further  study.  Fire  destroyed  the  entire  labora- 
tory so  no  further  study  can  be  made. 

One  peculiar  pearly  white  Bacillus  developed  in  consid- 
erable quantity,  in  fact  at  least  three-fourths  of  the  colon- 


— 10  — 


ies  belonged  to  this  species.  This  Bacillus  though  actively 
motile  had  none  of  the  cultural  peculiarities  of  B.  typhosus. 
Two  species  are  quite  commonly  found  in  surface  waters, 
namely  the  B.  cloacm  first  detected  by  Jordan  in  sewage. 

I am  inclined  to  think  that  both  B.  coli-communis  and  B. 
cloacce  occurred  in  the  Briley  shallow  well,  but  the  definite 
separation  was  not  carried  far  enough  to  determine  this 
point  to  my  satisfaction,  though  Dr.  Eli  Grimes  states  B. 
coli-communis  was  found. 

THE  COLLEGE  WATER  SUPPLY. 

It  is  certainly  worthy  of  mention  in  this  connection  that 
all  of  the  species  found  in  the  college  w’ater  supply  in  the 
tank  are  non-liquefying,  and  the  fact  that  gas  was  found 
on  one  occasion  does  not  argue  that  the  college  water  sup- 
ply was  contaminated.  The  simple  fact  that  the  species 
here  found  did  not  produce  gas  in  the  proportion  given  for 
B.  coli-communis,  namely,  of  two  parts  of  H.  to  one  part  of 
CO2,  but  represented  by  formula  one  to  two.  It  is  also  a 
significant  fact  that  morphologically  none  of  the  species 
found  indicated  either  B.  coli-communis  or  B.  typhosus  in 
the  college  w^ater  supply. 

Of  the  oft-repeated  statement  that  sewage  contamina- 
tion might  have  occurred,  I wish  to  state  that  the  writer, 
together  with  Professor  Marston,  climbed  to  the  top  of  the 
towmr  and  investigated  conditions,  and  everything  was 
found  in  its  usual  good  condition.  There  was  certainly  no 
indication  of  growth  of  algae  on  the  water,  nor  were  there 
any  indications  of  other  filthy  conditions.  In  fact,  the 
water,  and  everything  connected  with  it,  seemed  to  be  in 
an  ideal  state. 

The  statement  has  also  been  made  that  owdng  to  the 
fact  that  the  college  at  different  intervals  used  the  supply 
from  the  spring,  and  in  this  way  became  contaminated. 
An  investigation  made  of  the  college  spring  water,  as  well 
as  the  different  hydrants  and  cisterns,  those  of  Professor 
Stanton,  Professor  Curtiss,  and  the  old  Sexton  well,  indi- 

Experimental  Investigations  St.  Brd  Health,  Massachusetts,  1889-1890;  836,  and 
later  found  by  Moore  to  be  widely  distributed  in  the  soil. 

Russell  and  Bassett.  Trans.  Amer.  Pub.  Health  Asso., 


— 11  — 


cate  unusually  good  water,  with  the  exception  that  in  the 
Curtiss  well  and  the  Sexton  well  gas  was  produced,  but 
this  undoubtedly  came  from  the  surface  soil.  The  spring 
water  showed  no  gas  whatever,  nor  was  any  obtained  from 
the  hydrant  which  was  next  to  the  spring.  The  samples 
and  plates  were  carefully  plated. 

BACTERIA  FOUND  IN  OTHER  WATER  SUPPLIES. 

We  have  found  quite  commonly  in  all  of  our  waters  the 
B.  liquefaciens-fiuorescens.  The  Tyroth’ix  of  Duclaux  is 
certainly  also  common.  Most  attention  has  been  given  to 
the  chromogenes.  The  common  genera  of  Bacillus  and 
Micrococcus  were  represented,  and  of  the  these  the  Micro- 
cocci were  found  more  frequently  than  the  Bacilli  of  these 
Micrococcus  roseus-flavus,  Hefferan,  M.  agilis,  A.  Cohn,  and 
others  were  found. 

BACILLUS  TYPHOSUS  IN  WATER. 

Now,  as  to  the  relative  vitality  of  Bacillus  typhosus  in 
water;  many  determinations  have  been  made,  and  it 
would  not  be  strange  if  the  Bacillus  typhosus  should  not  be 
found  in  water. 

It  is  usually  held  by  sanitarians  that  water  is  the  most 
frequent  source  of  infection.  The  evidence  of  B.  typhosus 
in  water,  in  most  cases,  is  circumstantial;  but  I recall  a 
case  where  Dr.  Ravold  found  it  in  Mississippi  river  water, 
and  bacteriological  journals  report  cases  of  its  occurrence 
in  wells  and  streams,  but  the  reported  findings  of  the 
organism  under  such  circumstances  are  not  numerous.  It 
is  very  evident  that  the  typhoid  fever  bacillus  will  not 
grow  in  the  ordinary  media  with  other  pathogenic  o-gan- 
isms,  nor  are  the  special  media  much  more  satisfactory. 
It  is  evident  from  the  results  obtained  from  several  investi- 
gators that  not  much  can  be  expected  from  the  organism 
after  four  weeks.  It  is  certain  that  the  typhoid  fever 
organism  will  not  multiply  freely  in  water. 

MILK  AS  A SOURCE  OF  CONTAMINATION. 

As  to  the  bacteria  found  in  the  milk  supply,  an  investi- 
^ gation  has  been  made,  but  this  work  was  not  completed, 


--  12  — 


owing  to  the  destruction  by  fire  of  all  of  our  cultures.  We 
found  present  in  the  milk  a large  number  of  chromogenes^ 
but  none  of  these,  of  course,  can  be  referred  to,  or  are  in 
any  way  related  to  the  typhoid  fever  bacillus.  On  the 
other  hand,  we  did  find  B.  coli-co.mmHnii>,h\xi\tdioeBnot 
necessarily  follow  that  the  B.  coli-communis  comes  from 
human  dejecta,  as  this  organism  is  very  commonly  found 
in  connection  with  cow  stables,  and  the  organism  being 
found  quit  frequently  in  the  intestinal  tract  of  animals  as 
well  as  man.  Therefore  this  cannot  be  considered  to  be 
the  cause,  nor  as  an  argument  against  the  use  of  milk. 
This  work,  however,  was  not  completed,  and  hence  a final 
statement  cannot  be  made. 

COMPARISON  WITH  THE  SEWAGE  BACTERIA. 

The  results  of  the  work  carried  on  on  the  College  Sew- 
age Plant  show  the  following  conditions  with  reference  to 
the  purification,  and  it  is  of  interest  to  compare  these 
results  with  the  water  obtained  from  the  Briley  well.  It 
will  be  seen  that  in  every  case,  excepting  the  last  one,  that 
the  Briley  w^ell  contained  many  times  more  organisms 
than  the  effluent  of  either  filter  bed. 


DATE 


From 


Air 


Water 


September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 

September 


ist 

2d 

3d. 

4th 

5th 

5th 

5th 

6th 

7th 

8th 

9th 

loth 

loth 

loth 

nth 

i2th 

13th 

14th 

15th 

i6th 

17th 

17th 

17th 

18th 


19th 
20  th 

2ISt 

22d. 


W.  E.... 

W.  E 

E.  E 

W.  E 

E.  E 

Tank' 

90  degrees 
72  degrees 

62  degrees 

63  degrees 
82  degrees 

Manhole  . 

W.  E 

83  degrees 

W.  E 

82  degrees 

W.  E 

90  degrees 

E.  E..... 
Tank 

87  degrees 

Manhole  . 

E.  E 

68  degrees 

E.  E 

69  degrees 

W.  E 

70  degrees 

W.  E 

84  degrees 

W.  E 

85  degrees 

W.  E 

55  degrees 

E.  E 

65  degrees 

E.  E 

Tank 

68  degrees 

Manhole  . 

W.  E 

50  degrees 

W.  E 

66  degrees 

E.  E 

72  degrees 

W.  E.  ... 

71  degrees 

E.  E 

79  degrees 

75  degrees 

71  degrees 

73  degrees 

72  degrees 
72  degrees 
68  degrees 
68  degrees 
72  degrees 

74  degrees 
74  degrees 
74  degrees 


62  degrees 

72  degrees 

73  degrees 

74  degrees 
72  degrees 
74  degrees 
74  degrees 
72  degrees 
70  degrees 
(34  degrees 
68  degrees 

64  degrees 

65  deg  rees 
67  degrees 
67  degrees 

66  degrees 


Manhole 


Tank 


Effluent 


242, 400 


1,363,000 


424, 200 


696, 600 


484,600 


960 

, 4CO 

, 100 

390 

230 


i,8oO' 

460 

230- 

310 


2ia 
440. 
no 
1 , 200 
480 
100 
320 
3.600 


460 

340 

420' 

340 

480 


— 13  — 


From  September  23cl  to  September  28th,  inclusive,  the 
sewage  effluent  pipe  was  under  water,  hence  no  samples. 


From 

Air 

Water 

Manhole 

Tank 

Effluent 

E E 

69  degrees 
68  degrees 
72  degrees 

64  degrees 

64  degrees 

65  degrees 
67  degrees 

980 

460 

360 

W E 

W E 

Tank 

568, 400 

Manhole  . 
WE  . . 

896, 600 

80  degrees 
75  degrees 

81  degrees 
80  degrees 
72  degrees 
63  degrees 
40  degrees 

67  degrees 
67  degrees 
67  degrees 

67  degrees 

68  degrees 
68  degrees 
68  degrees 
62  degrees 
61  degrees 
70  degrees 

1,  200 
360 

1, 800 
450 
1,200 

2,  lOp 
1,800 

E E 

W E 

E E 

E E 

W.  E 

E E 

Tank 

260, 000 

Manhole  . 
W.  E 

1,333, 200 

63  degrees 

September  29th 
September  30th 

October  ist 

October  ist 

October  ist 

October  2d 

October  3d 

October  4th. . . . 

October  5th 

October  6th 

October  7th.... 

October  8th 

October  8th 

October  8th 

October  9th 


From  10th  to  13th,  inclusive,  the  beds  were  being 
<;leaned  and  the  sewage  was  turned  directly  into  the  creek 
from  the  tank. 


October  14th, 
October  15th 
'October  15th 
October  15th 
October  i6th 
October  17th 
October  i8th 


W.  E 

W.  E 

Tank 

Manhole  . 

W.  E 

W.  E 

E.  E 


63  degrees 
63  degrees 


60  degrees 
55  degrees 
63  degrees 


63  degrees 
63  degrees 

63  degrees 

64  degrees 
62  degrees 
62  degrees 
61  degrees 


2r2, 000 


360 

210 


120 

120 

130 


* Too  thick  to  count.  Estimated  at  5,000,000. 


CONCLUSION. 

It  may  be  stated  that  so  far  as  the  analysis  show  the  col- 
lege water  supply  may  be  considered  excellent.  It  is  true 
that  in  a number  of  instances  more  organisms  were  found 
than  at  other  times,  but  an  examination  made  from  time  to 
time  shows  that  the  number  is  not  unusually  large,  and  on 
the  whole  that  we  may  consider  our  water  supply  practi- 
cally pure,  and  I should  also  state  that  the  water  from  the 
spring  supply  is  unusually  good.  We  should  bear  in  mind 
that  the  failure  to  find  the  typhoid  fever  bacillus  in  the 
water  supply  or  milk  of  the  Briley  well  is  not  at  all 
surprising.  It  is  a well  known  fact  that  the  saprophytic 
species  grow  so  readily  in  the  nutrient  media  that 
the  typhoid  fever  bacillus  has  not  the  same  chance 
to  grow.  The  same  may  also  be  said  with  reference 
to  milk,  only  here  we  are  dealing  with  such  a large 


— 14  — 


number  of  species  that  it  would  be  a mere  accident  to  dis- 
cover the  organism.  As  said  heretofore  it  seems  to  me  to 
be  reasonable  that  the  milk  formed  a favorable  medium 
for  the  growth  of  the  organism,  and  be  it  specially  remem- 
bered that  Mr.  Briley,  from  his  own  testimony,  failed  to 
wash  the  cans  with  boiling  water  as  should  have  been  done. 
The  milk  cans  could  easily  have  been  contaminated,  and 
the  failure  on  his  part  to  wash  the  cans,  it  seems  to  me, 
made  it  not  only  possible  but  probable  that  these  germs 
propagated  in  the  milk. 

A comparison  of  the  water  of  the  Briley  well  and  the 
college  effluent  shows  that  the  Briley  well  had  a greater 
amount  of  contamination  than  the  college  effluent  from  the 
sewage  filter  beds. 


